Reps recommend 42.5mpa grade cement for construction in the country

To achieve standard construction works in the country, the 42.5mpa grade cement should be used, the House of Representatives recommended yesterday.

According to the House, the reason for adopting the 42.5mpa grade is because there is no building code hence 90 per cent of construction work in the country is undertaken by non-professionals, majority of whom are quacks.

“It will serve the national interest better to adopt a particular cement grade which is less susceptible to misapplication as the standard cement in the country,” the lawmakers said, adding that “most stakeholders will prefer it if given the chance to choose between 32.5mpa and 42.5mpa.”

The recommendation of the House was sequel to the adopting of the recommendations of the report of Hon. Yakubu Dogara- led ad hoc committee on Composition and Pigmentation of Cement (Cement Quality) which investigated the incidence of collapsed buildings in the country.

Lawmakers also recommended the quick passage of the National building Code Bill to check quackery, use of substandard building materials and also to serve as a tool for the regulation of the informal downstream sector of the construction industry.

The House also recommended that Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON’s) governing council should ensure that all cement manufacturers in Nigeria retool and upgrade their production lines to start producing the 42.5mpa grade within a reasonable time considering the cost of social dislocation.

They further recommended that the government should create a cement fund from contributions of N10 per 50kg bag of cement produced in Nigeria and N20 only per 50kg of cement imported into Nigeria for the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratories in all the geo-political zones within the period of three years.

The fund, they said, should be managed by a task force to be set up by SON, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

The lawmakers said: “All cement packages must clearly and boldly indicate their grades, uses and expiry dates with tamper proofing on the packages to guard against repackaging by middlemen; SON should ensure that all cement distributions withdraw expired cement from their warehouses and markets and destroy them, “

They asked that the Federal Government set up a National Quality Assurance Programme, using designated agencies and some professional bodies to regularly test samples of cement produced before they are sold in the open market.

Part of the House’s 12-point recommendations was that government “ should take immediate steps to establish a cement and concrete institute, as is the case in many jurisdictions,” and that “government should also revive all technical schools across the country and establish new ones to improve on the pool of qualified artisans and generate skilled as well semi-skilled labour.”

#Google smith#. be him a legislator or ordinary citizen of Nigeria, it is right that they search his official car because nobody can tell who is who, even the so called legislators,senators, or cabinet members can be culprits in this case of insurgency. thanks.

Chris

you just a fool. That means dey will search the inspector general of police car.Where in the world have you heard security operatives search people like that. some Nigerians are too hungry to think right is Tambuwal a security threat

omolaja

This is the beginning of anarchy. It only leads to self destruction

Alpha

Google smith, that’s your opinion but what happens when other office holders not equal to the rank of the speakers office were not searched?
The politics of na we they there will only kill Nigeria image, but it is obvious the presidency doesn’t care what happens.
He who the gods wants to destroy will not hear the warnings from them.

stephen v.

i fink a strong law shld b enacted on searching all citizens whether top or bottom class buh shld b done in a peaceful mannar 4 God sake,,dou Tambuwal deserves an appologio if & only if d search was carried out rudely..

Chris

nah hunger dey worry you. I know say you want make dem give you small thing that why you put your picture. Please young man help your self in many other better way than supporting corruption and dirty politics

Osanebi Osakuni

Anyone that has the capacity to negatively impact on National security must be subjected to security check. Why the shout? The President once claimed there were Boko Haram politicians in government and everybody insisted on their arrest. Turning back those mentioned from Ekiti was in the interest of Ekiti. That result is being commended today, the situation would certainly have been different if those ‘jaguda’ and marijuana smoking politicians had their way into Ekiti

Ayo

@ Osanebi – Rubbish why is it that when PDP is holding their rally, non of PDP bigwigs is prevented from attending, is it one rule for PDP and another for others? if you or GEJ and co are accusing the opposition of anything why not come out, say and prove it – we shall see what Fayose (a very controversial of the fake poultry fame will do in Ekiti)

Osanebi Osakuni

You are angry that Fayose’s people have given him their mandate. I repeat it to you Amaechi personifies strife. In Rivers state there is no House of Assembly, the Judiciary is grounded completely. Am not the one that accused Tinubu of smoking marijuana, it was OBJ and he didn’t deny. Those men don’t influence the society with values.

dondave

GEJ is synonymous with impunity. Can the first lady who occupied an illegal office be subject to security check? Why undermining the office of the Speaker? What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. Absolutely nonsensical.

JJ

Nigeria is already a lawless state. It serves the No. 4 citizen right. Where was he when Governors were subjected to the same abuse,

Ahmed

Is this the type of transformation jonathan wants to brings to Nigeria? My advice to his office is that he should remember that change is constant and whenever it is his time to be in opposition the same treatment can be given to him either directly or indirectly. I think this also add to the disgrace our hopeless military are facing under this clueless administration, you were order to search where you ought not to. May be their failed intelligent told them that sambisa forest is in his car.

Ewelum Anthony C

You guys said GEJ is weak and he has shown that he is not weak, he is just trying to be the gentleman he is. Am not against him searching the speaker because every northerner moslem is a terrorist until proven otherwise